Software⏱️ 2 min read📅 2026-05-31

How to Fix: Git error: "Host Key Verification Failed" when connecting to remote repository

Git error Host Key Verification Failed when connecting to a remote repository.

Quick Answer: Try adding the `-H` option to specify the host key, or use `git clone --mirror` to clone the repository with the correct host key.

Git error: "Host Key Verification Failed" when connecting to remote repository is a common issue that can be frustrating for developers. This problem occurs due to the mismatch between the host key of the server and the expected host key in the client's configuration.

💡 Why You Are Getting This Error

  • When you clone a repository using SSH, Git establishes an encrypted connection with the server. However, if the host key is not properly configured or has changed since the last time the client was connected to the server, Git will refuse to establish the connection.

✅ Best Solutions to Fix It

Method 1: Add Host Key Verification

  1. Step 1: Run the command `ssh -F ~/.ssh/hosts.conf @` to add the host key to your local machine's configuration.

Method 2: Use SSH Agent

  1. Step 1: Generate a new SSH key pair using the command `ssh-keygen -t rsa -b 4096` and add the public key to your server's authorized_keys file.

💡 Conclusion

By following these methods, you should be able to resolve the Git error "Host Key Verification Failed" and successfully clone your remote repository.

Did this fix your problem?

If not, try searching for specific error codes.

🔍 Search Error Database

❓ Frequently Asked Questions